The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-01-02
WATCH MEETING
TRINITY CHURCH METHODISTS SET
UP WITH THE OLD YEAR.

aud Sandwiches for the watchers
Brother Thompson Tells How Watch
Meetings Originated.
The hands of the clock in the basement
of Trinity Methodist Church on York
street pointed to exactly s o'clock Friday
night when Superintendent of the Sunday
School, Hills, slowly unwound himself
from the knotty position in which he had
been sitting and announced to his audi
ence of eight persons that they had gath
cred there to see that the year 1886 went
out of time in presentable condition and
to welcome the New Year that had been
booked to arrive one second past IL
o'clock. They had also met he said to al
low the congregation to swear off and to
start fresh with the new born infant, to
sin not until 1888 should arrive. Then he
requested Deacon Stirling to pray.
The Deacon made an impassioned ap-
peal to the Heavenly Father and thanked
Him that he and the rest of the congre ga
ton were on speaking terms and praying
ground with the Lord. After the Deaco
had finished his prayer, Brother Thomp-
son told his experience of the past year and
with tears in his eyes announced his firm
| intention of doing more work for the.
cause in the year that was so sooa to com
mence, ending with an appeal to his hear
ers to go and do likewise. Hardly had
Brother Thompson finished speaking
when the sweet voiced soprano who man
aged the organ, commenced to sing
/ Mar ~ o.1f 70
cation, which had increased to fully fifty
people, joined, and the refrain echoed and
re- echoed through the church in a manner
that made the good Deacon sitting in the
s'Amen row" speak that much abused
word with unusual fervor. Brother Hills
then read the 9th Psalm ard portion of
| the Goth, after which he gave
a short history of the origin Of
watch meetings. He said that centuries ago
the golfers 10 Kentwood, England, were In
the habit of holding watch meetings each
years the principal purpose of which
seemed to be to smash the record of wick
edness of the year previous. They would
dance and sing ribald songs, and at an early
hour woald, with the women, retire to
their homes, where the festivities would be
continued. The Christians saw that there
must be something done to couateract these
meetings, and 81 the Methodists estab-
lished similar Meeting, or rather prayer
meeting, to do the work. Since thst time
the meetings have been continued with
great success. After singing hymn Dea-
con Sterling took charge of the meeting
He asked how many there were among tue
Audience who were sure that they were
children of God, and were going to heaven
Everyone arose with the exception of a
scribe, or pencil shaver, and an extremely
pretty RI. Although both were sitting in
the rear of the room the good deacon spieG
them, and as he saw them turn toward
| each other and smile, look of sadness
overspread his countenance. Speaking of
the circumstance afterwards, the pretty girl
said that the scene reminded her some
what of certain Bible story about the
4 Scribes and Pharisees, not that she Thought
that those people who arose were all Phari-
sees, but that one of the two that did not
arise was a scribe.
When the audience had reseated chem
selves the deacon made an address pointed
directly at the scribe and the pretty girl,
urging them to become Christians, ending
by asking that those whit were children of
God should arise aud tell their experience.
This was not half SO good test of the
| Christianity OF those present as tho other
bad been, and only one person, an old
lady, told her story. Two more hymns
| were sung, and the request was repeated,
With q little better result. Brother Thomp-
son repeated his experience and his pur-
poses for the coming year. He was followed
by young man who said that he
felt as though the Church was his
home, and that he feared God, and
indended to do great work for him
during the year. He was followed by a
mlddied-aged man SITTING In the rear OF
the church. He said:
On March "a, sailed from New York to
Florida. Along thelatter coast the vessel
was wrecked In some mysterious m an
ner my life was saved, and / was washed
| ashore by the waves. i walked to Jack
4 sonville, where / received position, and
i would have returned to my native land.
i The Lord saved meand secured me that
4 position. l trust ia Him, and during tae
! coming year to work hard for Him.
/ Aaother hyma was sang, and Rev Mr.
1 Atkinson too1 charge of the meeting.
! he Sale that mad 1t not oeen for tue bad
weather there would, undoubtedly, have
/ been large attendance. He thought The
Lord was pleased With all such meetings.
and that now they prepared to have love
feast. Instead of the usual bread ana
/ water love feast there weuld De something
| more substantial, and it would be washeu
! down with coffee
Deacon Sterling started down the aisle
with the remark that it would be a love-
feast all the same, and he proposed seeing
what shape 1t was in. Five minutes after
words Mr. Johnson, MIR. Granger, Miss
Granger and Miss johnson, with Walters
full of coffee and sandwiches, appeared.
| For tne n xt half hour THESE lovable ladies
passed around the food and the crowd did
the feasting. At quarter past eleven
the watch meeting was resumed with the
pastor in Charge. He said that after feast
ne thought all should mediate. He re-
minded the audience of the fast dissolu
ton of the old year and of the approach
| of the new and of The annrnanh Of donth